Horses and riders showed up to the Grand Prix ring at HITS-on-the-Hudson I to battle it out for a blue-ribbon title in the $15,000 KindredBio Open Jumper Prix, newly sponsored by Kindred Biosciences, Inc.

Laura Chapot, of Neshanic Station, New Jersey, was on fire in Week I at HITS Saugerties. After snagging the blue ribbon in both the $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome and the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, Chapot returned to the ring to capture three spots in the top five with not only the first, but second- and fifth-place prize as well.

“I’d like to thank Kindred Bio for sponsoring this class,” said Chapot. “It’s great to have them here at HITS and let’s hope we have them around for long time in the future.”

Nine horses and riders had clear first rounds and moved on to the immediate jump-off over Saturday’s course designed by Marina Azevedo of Campinas, Brazil.

“[Marina] always does a fantastic job,” said Chapot. “It’s a nice class for the 1.40 meter horses as well as a young horse moving up; it was challenging in spots, but it never over-faced anyone.”

Chapot and her winning mount Out of Ireland, owned by The Edge, made out with the first clear jump-off round. Chapot and the powerhouse bay mare blazed through the course, turning on a dime to save time at every opportunity. They crossed the timers in 31.216, where the lead would remain.

“She has just stepped up to the upper levels—she won a small Grand Prix last year and had a great round today,” said Chapot of Out of Ireland. “She’s enthusiastic and a very fun ride; she’s fast but it’s all about keeping her head in it, and not getting ahead of herself.”

Next of the clear jump-off rounds was Sarah Segal of Flemington, New Jersey aboard Zelda, owned by T.K. Farm. Segal and Zelda put in a speedy trip, the seconds were dwindling down as they crossed the timers without fault in 33.276, which would eventually earn them third-place.

Megan Bash was next to contend the jump-off as she piloted Pourkoipa Fontaine, owned by Cleveland Equestrian. They were quick and clear, but their time of 34.989 was not quite enough to move up the leaderboard. It was enough however, to keep them in the money with the ultimate fourth-place.

Chapot followed with Umberto, owned by Mary Chapot, to test her own leading time. They clocked in just a second behind in a fault-free 32.659, earning them the second-place spot.

More talented contenders entered the ring including Matthew Williams and Debbie McCarthy Connor. They each had four-fault rounds, but stayed in the ribbons with their speedy rounds earning sixth-place and seventh-place, respectfully.

The final trip belonged to Chapot aboard Zealous, owned by Mary Chapot. With two leading times in the books, Chapot took to the shortened course to once again challenge her own rank. Their round was lightning-fast with another lead on the horizon, but a rail for four faults sealed the placings. They stopped the clock at 31.585 to garner fifth-place.

Place

Horse

Out of IreOwner

Rider

Prize

Rd. 1 Faults

JO Faults

JO Time

1

Out of Ireland

The Edge

Laura Chapot

$4,350

0

0

31.216

2

Umberto

Mary Chapot

Laura Chapot

$3,150

0

0

32.659

3

Zelda

T.K. Farm

Sarah Segal

$2,100

0

0

33.276

4

Pourkoipa Fontaine

Cleveland Equestrian

Megan Bash

$1,400

0

0

34.989

5

Zealous

Mary Chapot

Laura Chapot

$1,100

0

4

31.585

6

Cas

Wyndmont, Inc.

Matthew Williams

$800

0

4

36.182

7

Zim

Connor & Ebetino Jumpers, LLC

Debbie McCarthy Connor

$650

0

4

38.164

8

Welfare

Shalanno Farms, LLC

Fernando Lozinsky

$550

0

12

34.956

9

Quidathago Z

Brittany Hurst

Brittany Hurst

$450

0

14

57.658

10

Conntador

Wolver Hollow

Theodore Demetriou

$450

1

-

-

11

Bec Hugo

Laura Chapot

Laura Chapot

-

4

-

-

12

EF Eline

Edition Farm

Debbie McCarthy Connor

-

4

-

-

(C) ESI Photography Laura Chapot and Out Of Ireland on their way to a $15,000 KindredBio Open Jumper Prix win.

The competition was fierce in Saturday’s $10,000 M&S/TuffRider/Equine Couture Child and Adult Jumper Classic. The twelve-horse jump-off kept the crowd on the edge of their seats as each passing round got faster and faster.

The ultimate time to beat, and the blue ribbon, belonged to Linda McBurney of Fairhaven, New Jersey, and her own Less Is More over a course designed by Marina Azevedo of Campinas, Brazil.

“The course was flowing and encouraged you to go forward; it was challenging without being too difficult,” said McBurney. “I was very happy that my horse, who hasn’t shown since last fall, came back fresh and was jumping well.”

First to return for the jump-off was Madeleine Mallon of New Milford, Connecticut, aboard Antonio, owned by Amanda Schaffer. They put down a solid round, clocking in at 32.216, which would eventually earn them fifth-place.

After a few trips, Mallon’s time stood at the top of the leaderboard, until Danville, New Hampshire, equestrian Alissa Kinsey and Grisset entered the ring to contend the shortened course. Kinsey opted for a tight inside turn to the mid-course combination, a maneuver that others would soon follow to shave time. They passed the timers in 29.304 to take the lead.

Her lead would be short-lived however, as victors Linda McBurney and Less Is More returned for the jump-off. She and her bay thoroughbred put the pedal to the metal as they zoomed through the course no holds barred. McBurney also opted for the inside turn to the combination and galloped passed the finish just fractions of a second ahead in 29.277, edging out Kinsey for second-place.

“My original plan was to not take that inside turn, but when Alissa took it while also being very fast, I knew that’s what I had to do to win,” said McBurney. “My horse is fast, so I don’t have to run him off his feet—he’s the kind of horse that deepens my appreciation for thoroughbreds in this sport.”

The next clear jump-off round belonged to Kendall Milkey of Temple, New Hampshire, and Valencia. They stopped the clock fault-free in 30.336 earning them the eventual fourth-place prize.

Alexandra Carlton of Madison, Connecticut, came close to the winning mark piloting Colourline. They passed the timers in a quick 29.787, earning them third place for their efforts.

Place

Horse

Out of IreOwner

Rider

Prize

Rd. 1 Faults

JO Faults

JO Time

1

Less Is More

Linda Mc Burney

Linda Mc Burney

$2,800

0

0

29.277

2

Grisset

Alissa Kinsey

Alissa Kinsey

$1,800

0

0

29.304

3

Colourline

Alexandra Carlton

Alexandra Carlton

$1,250

0

0

29.787

4

Valencia

Kendall Milkey

Kendall Milkey

$900

0

0

30.336

5

Antonio

Amanda Schaffer

Madeleine Mallon

$800

0

0

32.216

6

Shinto 3

Elizabeth Rae

Elizabeth Rae

$700

0

0

32.991

7

Collect Z

Chloe Terestchenko

Chloe Terestchenko

$600

0

0

36.507

8

Capella 37

Alissa Kinsey

Alissa Kinsey

$400

0

4

28.504

9

Cardiograaf

Alexandra Carlton

Alexandra Carlton

$375

0

4

29.781

10

Sniper

Musical Woods, LLC

Victoria Zeich

$375

0

4

34.891

11

Crespo

McCarthy Horse Ventures, LLC

Eleanor Waugh

-

0

4

38.166

12

Billistic

Kennedy Knapic

Meghan Knapic

-

0

8

41.581

(C) ESI Photography Linda McBurney and Less Is More on their way to a $10,000 M&S/Tuffrider/EquineCouture Child/Adult Jumper Classic win.

About HITS, Inc.HITS, Inc. produces high-quality, international-level hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the Village of Saugerties, HITS has been producing shows since 1982 and is now a nationwide company with world-class circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York, and Virginia.

While hosting the richest weekend in show jumping at HITS-on-the-Hudson, HITS also formed the Triple Crown of Show Jumping. This includes the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by MortgageCall, in Thermal, California, the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix in Ocala, Florida and Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Wells Fargo, in Saugerties, New York.